By Bridget Scrimenti, The Sun, Lowell, Mass.
Nov. 23–Dr. Ingrid Balcomb is an obstetrician and gynecologist at Emerson Hospital in Concord. She has delivered 8,000 to 10,000 babies during the past 30 years. She was trained in Nova Scotia and came to Emerson in 1994, and she has chaired the OB/GYN department for the past five years. Balcomb, 57, says she doesn’t plan on retiring anytime soon. She loves obstetrics, and she can’t imagine not delivering babies. “It’s wonderful — I always have new patients, and to them it’s such a marvel that they see the birthing process,” Balcomb said. “Even if (childbirth) ever became routine for us, their excitement and marvel is contagious.”
Q: What should every expecting mother know that they don’t?
A: For moms expecting their second baby, I refer to the second pregnancy as the “more” pregnancy. Everything is more exaggerated. Mothers are more crampy, have more Braxton-Hicks contractions, and have more pelvic pressure. I tell all my patients that.
Q: What’s the funniest thing that’s happened when delivering a baby?
A: Amazingly
enough, it was when I was delivering the twins (in the photo). I delivered the first baby, and both the nurse and I heard a snap which sounded like either the collar bone of the baby or the tailbone of the mother, which was alarming. I was checking out the mother, and when I went to turn around to get an instrument to break her water, I realized what had happened. My bra snapped open. I whispered to the nurse and we both started laughing. We had to confess to the parents. The poor mother and father were wondering what’s so funny about this delivery.
Q: Have you ever had a dad pass out?
A: Unfortunately numerous times. The worst was when a dad who had been studying for exams literally passed out cold. He had to be on a stretcher with an IV. This was in Canada where we had delivery in a separate room. He laid next to his wife while she was in labor. We used to believe the dad’s when they say they’re fine, but now we make sure they’ve had something to eat and drink.
Q: What’s the most unusual gift you’ve received?
A: You usually get flowers, cards, and candy, but one patient brought in two beautiful gift bags with puppy treats. I have two shar pei’s.
Q: What’s your advice for new parents?
A: Take advantage of whatever help is offered to you, and don’t try to do it all at once. Be patient, because the first 6 to 12 weeks are the hardest, but after that it gets easier. The baby sleeps better and you’re more climatized to the change in your life. It’s hard to go from being pregnant to being a mom, and all the demands that go with it — physically and emotionally.
Q: Have you ever delivered a baby outside the hospital?
A: It was in a car in the parking lot of the hospital in Canada. I had to jump in the back of the car and do the delivery. The mother came back two years later and delivered in the elevator.
Q: What are the most unique baby names you’ve seen?
A: The one name I’ll never forget is Blue Mountain. It was a young couple with the last name Mountain, and they named him Blue.
Q: Have you ever had a baby named after you?
A: I’m happy to say there are two little Ingrid’s running around the Concord area. One of the couple’s really like the name, and the other couple had a Scandinavian background. My mother blessed me with an unusual name, but it took 20 years of my career before someone named their baby after me.
Q: What should people know about OB/GYNs that they don’t?
A: I think most people aren’t aware that OB/GYNs are actually surgeons. We perform the baby’s circumcision, (a woman’s) hysterectomy, as well as, deliver the baby and c-sections. An OB/GYN developed laparoscopic surgery. It’s a minimally invasive surgery where you go through the belly button and perform tiny incisions. We’re also menopausal experts. We get women from newborn through their whole life, and get to look after female health needs.
Q: Was it hard to be a patient when pregnant?
A: I’m the mother of two girls, and it was difficult to be a patient. I delivered in a small community hospital that didn’t have epidurals, so I was afraid one of my own patients would hear me in labor. My daughter is pregnant and due in two weeks. I think its harder for me to go through her pregnancy as a mom.
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